Wrestling: Central debuts in NJWWA public poll

Hunterdon Central resumed its season just in time to claim a spot in the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association's public school Top 10 rankings.

The Red Devils (3-0), who end their COVID-19 pause today with a home match against Delaware Valley at noon, entered at No. 10. Coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm's team saw its season halt following a 64-10 win over St. Joseph-Metuchen on March 20.

In all, four teams represent the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area in this week's state rankings, with North Hunterdon (5-0), also on a COVID-19 pause, and Phillipsburg (7-1), which is sitting on 997 victories, checking at Nos. 2 and 3 on the public side, while Pope John (3-2) holds steady at No. 9 in the non-public Top 10.

The best dual meet of the season produced a change in the public school Top 10 rankings. 

Kingsway, which gave Delbarton, the No. 1 team among non-publics, all it could handle in a 29-24 defeat on Thursday, jumps ahead of North Hunterdon, which had been No. 1 public program for the first two weeks of the season and finished on top in 2020. 

Kingsway (7-1) had a chance to knock Delbarton off right to the final seconds of the 14th bout before Cross Wasilewski defeated Joey Miranda, 1-0, at 126 pounds to enable the Green Wave to secure the win. 

The two powerhouses had a 7-7 split in bouts. 

Kingsway has defeated three other teams that are either ranked or have spent time in one of the two polls this season, including a 62-9 win over St. Augustine, the No. 7 non-public school. 

Christian Brothers Academy and Paramus Catholic made the big moves in the non-public rankings. Both moved up two spots to Nos. 4 and 5, respectively. 

CBA went 2-0 last week. Paramus Catholic scored an impressive 52-20 win at Delsea. 

Camden Catholic, which dropped a 34-31 decision to Cherokee last week, dropped two spots to No. 6 in the non-public poll. St. Augustine also dipped two spots to No. 7. 

Top 10 Public Schools
Ranking	School	Record
1	Kingsway	(7-1)
2	North Hunterdon	(5-0)
3	Phillipsburg	(7-1)
4	South Plainfield	(7-0)
5	Southern	(8-2)
6	Brick Memorial	(7-1)
7	Howell	(8-1)
8	Mount Olive	(8-1)
9	Paulsboro	(8-0)
10	Hunterdon Central	(8-0)
Others receiving votes: Kittatinny, Delsea, Ocean Township
Top 10 Non-Public Schools
Ranking	School	Record
1	Delbarton	(6-0)
2	St. Joseph-Montvale	(5-0)
3	Bergen Catholic	(1-0)
4	Christian Brothers	(8-2)
5	Paramus Catholic	(3-0)
6	Camden Catholic	(5-1)
7	St. Augustine	(3-2)
8	St. Peter's Prep	(5-1)
9	Pope John	(3-2)
10	Don Bosco Prep	(2-2)
Others receiving votes: St. Joseph-Metuchen, St. Thomas Aquinas

Listed in alphabetical order: Donald J. Brower (gardenstatehswrestling.com); Frank D’Esposito (theshoreconference.com); Steven Falk (Asbury Park Press and APP.com); Sean Farrell (The Record and NorthJersey.com); Jane Havsy (Daily Record and DailyRecord.com); “Screwy” Louie Lazzari (New Jersey wrestling historian); John Lewis (Burlington County Times and phillyburbs.com); Ron Mazzola (NJWWA president and Region V ranking chairman); Tom McGurk (Courier Post and courierpostonline.com); Andy Mendlowitz (Courier News and MyCentralJersey.com); Andrew Tredinnick (New Jersey Herald and njherald.com); Greg Tufaro (Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com); Michael Weilamann (Open Mike and mikeopen.blogspot.com), Brad Wilson (The Express Times and lehighvalleylive.com).